Pouring spout



1953 E. E. KRAMER ET AL 2,657,838

POURING SPOUT Filed Nov. 2, 1951 INVENTORS. EDWIN E. KRAMER ALBERTKRAMER WKM A T TOR/VE Y Patented Nov. 3, 1953 2,657,838 POURING SPOUTEdwin E. Kramer, South Pasadena, and

Alfred Kramer,

San Gabriel, Calif.

Application November 2, 1951, Serial No. 254,584

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improved pouring spouts for cans having lidretention grooves.

Various types of liquids, such as paint for example, are ordinarilydistributed to the retail market in cans provided with lids that seat inan annular lid retention groove located at the top of the can. Thepresence of the lid retention groove makes it difficult to pour theliquid from the can because the groove deflects the flow of the liquid.Also, when the liquid is poured over the lid retention groove, some ofthe liquid remains in the groove and not only interferes with thereplacement of the lid but also causes sticking of the lid when theliquid in the groove dries.

Various types of pouring spouts have been devised which may be attachedto cans. However, these spouts are ordinarily difficult to attach to andremove from a can because they employ members which must be forced intothe lid retention groove of the can. Also, it is likely that some of theliquid which adheres to the base of the pouring spout will enter the lidretention groove when the spout is removed.

The pouring spout of our invention is easy to attach to and remove froma can, and the spout is arranged so as to prevent the liquid fromentering the lid retention groove when the liquid is poured.

In accordance with our invention, we provide a pouring spout composed ofa resilient material having a channel portion which is curved in theform of an are for engaging the under side of the lid retention grooveof the can, and having a pouring lip which extends from the inner leg ofthe channel portion.

The invention is explained with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the pouring spout of our invention;

Fig. 2 shows the pouring spout attached to a can; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing how the channel portion of the spoutis attached to the under side of the lid retention groove of the can.

The pouring spout is a unitary member having a U-shaped channel portionwhich is curved in the form of an are for engaging the under side of thelid retention groove I2 of a can I4. Preferably the channel portion Inis curved substantially in the form of a semi-circle so that it engagesabout one-half of the circumference of the mouth of the can wheninstalled.

A concave, generally crescent-shaped pouring lip [6 extends from theinner leg of the channel portion, and an indentation I8 is providedinterpressing the outer edges of the lip l5 adjacent.

the channel portion I0 inwardly, and then inserting the channel portionthrough the open mouth of the can. The pressure on the outer edges ofthe lip 16 is then released, and the lip I6 is pulled upward so as tocause the channel portion to seat on the under side of the lid retentiongroove of the can.

When the pouring spout snaps in position on the lid retention groove ofthe can, the indentation I8 seats on the inner rim 19 of the lidretention groove. Thus, the channel portion l9 and the indentation l8serve to secure the pouring spout to the can so that there is verylittle likelihood that the spout will become dislodged during use.

When the can is tilted, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to pour out some ofits contents, the smooth concave surface of the spout permits the flowof the liquid to be controlled accurately. Since the base of the pouringspout surrounds the under side of the lid retention groove of the can,none of the liquid is permitted to enter the groove i 2.

The pouring spout is removed by pressing down on the lip I6 so as todisengage the channel portion I!) from the can, and the outer edges ofthe lip l6 which are adjacent the channel portion IQ are pressedinwardly so as to permit the base of the spout to be withdrawn throughthe mouth of the can. Then the pouring spout may be removed and used onanother can, if desired.

The pouring spouts of our invention may be produced in volume at verylittle cost per spout. They are particularly suitable for use as anadvertising medium when an advertisement is printed or otherwise placedon the lip portion of the spout.

We claim:

1. A pouring spout for a can having a lid retention groove, comprising aunitary resilient member having a curved channel portion for engagingthe under side of the lid retention groove of the can and having agenerally crescentshaped pouring lip extending from the inner leg of thecurved channel portion, the portion of the member between the inner legof the channel portion and the pouring lip having an indentation 3therein for engaging the inner rim of the lid retention groove of thecan.

2. A pouring spout for a can having a lid retention groove comprising aunitary resilient member having a curved channel portion substantiallyin the form of a semi-circle for engaging the underside of the lidretention groove of the can and having a generally crescent shapedpouring lip extending from the inner leg of the curved channel portion,the portion of the member between the inner leg of the channel portionand the pouring lip having an indentation which extends along the innerpart of such channel on the side of the channel closest to the concaveside of the curved channel portion for engaging the inner rim of the lidretention groove of the can.

3. A pouring spout for a. can having a lid retention groove comprising aunitary resilient member having a curved channel portion for engagingthe underside of the lid retention groove of the can and having apouring lip extending from the inner leg of the curved channel portion,the lip curving in a direction extending outwardly and away from theinner leg of the curved channel portion, directed outwardly on theconvex side of the channel portion, the portion of the member betweenthe inner leg of the channel and the pouring lip having an indentationtherein for engaging the inner rim of the lid retention groove of thecan.

4. A pouring spout for a can having a lid retention groove comprising aunitary resilient member having a curved channel portion for engagingthe underside of the lid retention groove of the can and having apouring lip extending from the inner leg of the curved channel portion,the lip curving in a direction extending outwardly and away from theinner leg of the curved channel portion, directed outwardly on theconvex side of the channel portion, the outer edges of the pouring lipbeing contoured so that when it is installed on a can it presents ahigher edge near the can than near the pouring edge when it is disposedin pouring position, the portion of the member between the inner leg ofthe channel portion and the pouring lip having an indentation thereinfor engaging the inner rim of the lid retention groove of the can.

EDWIN E. KRAMER. ALFRED KRAMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,867,060 Carr July 12, 1932

